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This is from memory, so if someone wants to edit the question, feel free.

When a fighter attacks a creature, that creature is marked. When does the marking happen in the sequence of events? If the creature does an interrupt, is the creature marked during that interrupt action? Does the marking happen before or after damage occurs?

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what sequence of events are you imagining in which this is important? Is the attack redirected or is it averted entirely? – wax eagle Jul 29 '11 at 12:55
Two things. First, PC figher attacks monster. Monster has an interrupt that attacks PC warlord. Does the monster have a -2 because it is marked? Second, there's a feat that does extra damage if a creature is marked. Does the act of attacking the monster mark the creature, and the damage is immediately applied? – bryanjonker Jul 29 '11 at 18:32

2 Answers

up vote 11 down vote accepted

It depends on the trigger of the creature's immediate interrupt/reaction (or opportunity action).

References: see Rules Compendium, page 214-215 - Making Attacks.
An attack is a sequence of 6 steps that I have shortened here.

  1. Choosing an attack power
  2. Choosing target(s)
  3. Making an attack roll
  4. Compare result against defense to see if it is a hit or a miss
  5. Apply the effect (damage and/or conditions) described by the power (under hit or miss)
  6. Repeat 3 through 5 for other targets.

Fighter's Combat Challenge says that:

Every time you attack an enemy, whether the attack hits or misses, you can choose to mark that target.

This could have more than one interpretation. It could be a rider effect of step 3 (because of we don't need to know the result of the comparison). It could be a rider effect of the step 4 (whether the attack hits or misses). It could be also considered part of the step 5 (treating the mark as a riding condition of the power used).

My opinion is that the mark actually is applied on step 4.

Now. Suppose the creature has a power whose effect is...

Case A

The action is an immediate reaction and the trigger is akin to...

Trigger: A creature targets you with an attack.
Effect: You shift 1 square.

The reaction is on the creature being targeted, the attack (step 3) has not been performed yet. The creature has so a chance to escape the Fighter's melee reach, thus becoming a non-valid target and negating the entire attack (along with the mark).

Case B

The action is an immediate interrupt and the trigger is...

Trigger: A creature attacks you with a melee attack.
Effect: You shift 1 square.

The interrupt is on the creature being attacked (step 3), so - in this case too - the attack has not been performed yet. Thus, the creature has a chance to escape the Fighter's melee reach, becoming a non-valid target and negating the entire attack (along with the mark).

Case C

The action is an opportunity attack and the trigger is...

Trigger: A creature attacks you with a melee attack.
Target: Any enemy adjacent to the triggering creature.
Attack: +7 vs. AC.
Hit: 1d8+3 damage.

Opportunity actions interrupt their triggers. The counterattack, in this case, is performed before the Fighter's attack (similar to case B). Thus, Fighter's allies adjacent to him take the attack from a still unmarked enemy (no -2 penalty to attack rolls). After the counterattack is resolved, the Fighter's attack takes place (along with the mark).

Case D

(as suggested by Simon Withers to further clarify)
Similar to case C: the action is an opportunity attack but the trigger is...

Trigger: A creature damages you with a melee attack.
Target: Any enemy adjacent to the triggering creature.
Attack: +7 vs. AC.
Hit: 1d8+3 damage.

In this case the counterattack is performed after the Fighter's attack (step 3), but before damage is applied (step 5). At this point the interpretation on the Combat Challenge feature becomes important: the creature could or could not have been already marked.

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And Case 4, change Case 3's trigger to be "A creature damages you with a melee attack" and the mark is now in place, yes? – Simon Withers Jul 29 '11 at 16:48
Correct. I'm going to integrate your hint in the answer. – Erik Burigo Jul 29 '11 at 17:42
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In case D because of when the trigger occurs I am nearly certain you are marked for that attack. – wax eagle Jul 30 '11 at 0:46
@wax - I agree :) – Simon Withers Jul 30 '11 at 2:49
@wax eagle. My interpretation is that the mark is applied at step 4, so I agree with you to. – Erik Burigo Jul 31 '11 at 13:43
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up vote 2 down vote

From DDI:

Every time you attack an enemy, whether the attack hits or misses, you can choose to mark that target. The mark lasts until the end of your next turn

To me this means as long as the attack occurs the mark happens. If the attack is averted, redirected or otherwise does not happen then the mark does not happen. Otherwise you are marked.

An interrupt happens before the attack so no the creature is not marked during the attack. A reaction happens after the attack so the creature is marked for the reaction. An opportunity attack is a specialty kind of interrupt so the creature would not be marked for the opportunity action.'

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